President's Page • February 2026

A Constitution That Endures: 150 Years of Law in Texas

On February 15, 1876, Texas adopted a new state constitution, creating a framework for governance we still use today. As we mark the 150th anniversary of this milestone, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the role of the law in our lives as Texans and as lawyers.

The original 1876 Texas Constitution established a bill of rights and defined the scope and duties of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Alongside articles on voting, public education, taxation, and other matters, the 1876 Texas Constitution provided a means of amending itself, a feature that Texas lawmakers have regularly invoked throughout the years. As a result, it’s now one of the longest state constitutions still in use.

Despite its length, the constitution still points to something fundamental about what Texans value: the principle of self-government under law. Through constitutional amendment elections, issues ranging from the taxes we pay to how judges handle bail decisions to our rights and responsibilities as Texans are in our hands as Texas voters.

As Texas lawyers, we swear an oath to “support the Constitutions of the United States, and of this state,” so we have a unique stake in their survival. Not only that, the more we engage with our constitutions, the better advocates we become. As Supreme Court of Texas Justice Evan A. Young writes in these pages, “[T]he Texas bar should take great interest in the constitution’s vast trove of detailed provisions that, when properly invoked, can advance their clients’ litigation and transactional affairs.” I join Justice Young in calling for a renewed focus on the Texas Constitution by the bench and the bar this year.

The State Bar of Texas is playing its part. This issue of the Texas Bar Journal includes an insightful feature by Justice Young, whose enthusiasm for the constitution is contagious. South Texas appellate attorney Bill Chriss offers a historical view, covering the key events and political moods that preceded the constitution’s adoption. We are grateful to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which opened its doors to members of the Supreme Court of Texas and TBJ staff for a special viewing of the original 1876 Texas Constitution as part of the coverage for this issue. Finally, thanks are due to the members of the Supreme Court of Texas for their exceptional efforts to highlight this anniversary.

The Texas Constitution has lasted for 150 years because generations of Texans have worked to preserve and improve it. Today, we recognize this history and take pride in our role as Texas lawyers in advancing and maintaining our rights and responsibilities under the law.

SANTOS VARGAS
President, 2025-2026
State Bar of Texas